“You’re going to her house?’
I turn my head, spotting Jay from the corner of my eye, a disapproving look
on his face.
“Where else would I go?”
“You’re going to piss them off.”
“I’m not going to hurt her,” I scowl.
“Do you think that will matter to them? Your presence will be threatening enough.”
I swivel my chair completely around, cocking my brow as I lean back and cross my arms.
“Do I look fucking scared?”
He tips his head back and sighs dramatically. “We know you’re a bad bitch,
Zade. That’s not the point.” I reach out and punch his thigh in response to being
called a bad bitch, earning me a groaned ow.
“No, the point is that this is my quickest option. I will give them a very good
reason to come to me, and I will ensure we come to a mutually beneficial agreement. I don’t have time to learn the ins and outs of transporting humans.
It’s complicated as fuck, and my primary focus the past several years has been
locating the rings once the girls have already been moved. Addie can be traded
any day if she hasn’t been already, so I need to cover my bases. While I try to
find where she’s being held, I need someone that understands the business to keep an eye out for if or when she’s transported.”
Jay sighs, sensing that I'm going to do what I want anyway. “Fine. Just don’t
be a dick to her.”
I flash a grin. “Don’t worry. The ladies love me.”
“Get out of my house right now, you fucker!” Teresa, otherwise known as
Mama T, yells, pointing a finger at me. “Do you think you can just waltz into my
house? Who do you think you are?”
I lean back into the couch, wiggling my butt until I’m comfortable.
“A very desperate man, Teresa Baker,” I say, looking over the house casually.
She has a very cozy home, and everything has its place.
Cream walls with matching couches, maroon flower pictures spaced out
perfectly, matching wooden furniture, the brown surfaces gleaming as if she dusted them not two seconds ago, and a white birdcage hanging in the corner, a little Tweety chirping away.
Does she have a Sylvester, too?
She scoffs, “What the hell does that have to do with me?”
“You know some men who I need to have a chat with. Does Ryker sound
familiar? Slade, Daire or Kace, even?”
Her face visibly pales, and her thin red lips part as she scrambles for a response.
Too slow, Mama T.
“Call them. Bring them here. That’s all I want.”
She huffs out an amused laugh. “You know they’re going to kill you, right?”
“Now why would they do that? We’re having a lovely time.”
She shoots me a look, sits down in her chair, and grabs the phone off the receiver. She’s probably one out of fifteen people in the world who still have a landline.
Her green eyes spear me like sharpened knives as she slaps the phone to her
ear. I smile wide at her in return, though I fear it came out a tad feral.
“Get over here, now. Bring your brothers,” she says after someone picks up,
glancing over at me with irritation.
“No, I’m not hurt,” she assures quickly. “There’s a man here to see you four.”
He must agree because she hangs up the phone without another word. Still shooting me the evil eye, she sets the phone down a tad aggressively, and an uncomfortable silence descends.
Nothing about Mama T is typical, nor is she shy as she meets my stare head-on. Despite being in her fifties, she’s got character—tattoos on her neck, a
Monroe piercing, a nose ring, and dark red lipstick.
“My girl was kidnapped,” I tell her, hoping to appease some of her anger.
Honestly, I have no interest in harming an old lady. I hate that I’m making her
uncomfortable, but it’s a necessary means to get what I need. I’d rather she feels
relaxed in my presence—as much as she’s capable of when a six-foot-six man with scars all over his body walks into your home.
She stares at me blankly, waiting for me to continue. “She was taken by some
very bad and powerful people. Could be anywhere in the world at this point.
Your boys happen to have a refined skill in what I need to possibly track her down.”
She leans her elbows on her spread knees, and it feels like she’s looking past
my flesh and into my soul. I stay still. People seeing me for who I am has never
bothered me.
“You’re a powerful, bad man.”
I shrug. “And also, someone with very little time to waste. I’ve got a firm hold on my manhood, and I can admit when I need help.”
She raises her thin brows and gives me a look that suggests at least you have
that going for you.
I'd like to think I'm pretty, too, but I'll let it slide.
“What makes you think my boys will help you? Is my life your bargaining chip?”
“Of course not,” I chirp, much like the bird chattering in the cage. “Only a weaker man would hurt an innocent woman to get what they want.”
She cocks a brow, unimpressed. I can’t help but smile at that.
“Like you said, I’m a powerful, bad man. I have connections and capabilities
of my own. Whatever they need, I can do, once my girl is safe and sound.”
She nods her head, though she doesn’t look convinced. I’m not worried about
what they will ask of me. What I don’t know, I can learn. When it comes time to
collect, Addie will be by my side, and I’ll have all the time in the world to get
them whatever they need.
“Well, I don’t approve of your methods, but I was married once and would’ve
killed to have even a fraction of the love you have for your lady friend.”
“Come on, there’s time. You could still find your one and only.”
She rolls her eyes. “I’m too old for that shit. I have my boys, and that’s enough. Just next time, would ya knock? You almost gave me a goddamn heart attack.”
“I’m sorry, Teresa,” I say genuinely, my hand over my heart. It only earns me
another eye roll.
“Call me Mama T.”
I grin, pleased that I’ve been accepted. I told Jay—the ladies love me.